Cross-Centered Community: Encourage (Eph 4:29-30)

Sermon Notes are not exact transcripts of sermons preached at BBC. Instead, they are simply the notes the pastor took with him into the pulpit and preached from. As a result, the actual sermon that was preached may vary from what is posted.

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Cross-Centered Community: Encourage

Eph 4:29-30  

Introduction   

Eph 4:22-24to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,  [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  

We must learn to use our words and speech as Christians, putting away old habits and sinful ways.  

“our use of the tongue is sure evidence of the state of our heart.  ” – Sinclair Ferguson Ephesians

4:29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.      

Three directions for godly speeach that encourages God’s people.

1. Encourage with Words that are Free from Corruption 

Paul begins by telling his readers, and us today, what kind of words to not use.  He says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.” 

The word he uses that we have as corrupting is a rather foul word.  It is only used a couple of times beside here and each time it is used literally to speak of something rotting or decayed.  Specifically it is used to speak of rotten fruit and rotten fish.  

Now, I don’t know about you, but I hate just the smell of something rotten.  I had some peaches one time that had fallen back behind something else in the refrigerator the other day.  And when I found those things they were black and shriveled and had what looked like raw penicillin growing on top.   Some of you are fishermen, and you know how foul smelling rotting fish can be.  It’s not exactly something you want to bottle and market as an air-freshener. It reeks!  

That’s the kind of imagery Paul is using to speak about the kind of words that people can use. And he says, ‘don’t let that kind of corrupting talk come of out of your mouth, Christian brothers and sisters.’ Why?  Because that kind of talk doesn’t build up.  That’s the antithesis he gives us, isn’t it?  Paul says, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.  If it does not build up the body of Christ, then it shouldn’t come out of our mouths.  

So what exactly are we talking about here?  What kind of corrupting talk does Paul have in mind?  Many automatically think of vulgar or crass language.  That would certainly fit.  I have to say there is something wrong about Bono saying he is a Christian one minute, then using the F-word in the very next sentence.   

This is problem for a lot of Christians.  Particularly when they get mad or upset – it just comes out.  Let me suggest that the old proverb ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is true.  If you hear enough profanity at work, the movies, your friends, it will lodge itself in your mind and eventually come out.   Most of us cannot control what we hear people at work say.  But all of us can decide what kind of media we take in.  There are times when you just need to walk out of certain movies, surf away from certain websites, or turn off certain radio stations.  It’s that simple.  

But it’s too easy to leave it at vulgarity and profanity.  Paul has in mind more than that.  It also means things like gossip.  Some get hyper sensitive to the issues of gossip.  They will not discuss anything about anyone.  That’s a little too far.   But that’s not the problem most of us have.  Do you say negative and critical things about people that are not around?  Things you would never say to their face?  Do you exaggerate stories to make people or situations sound worse than they are?  Do you tell others something bad about another person, even when you don’t know if it’s true or the other person doesn’t have a reason to know?  All of that can be considered gossip and it’s sinful.   

We could go on even further – things like cruel words, anger words, slanderous words, lying and deceitful words, harsh and complaining words.  Paul has in mind all of these kinds of things.   Anything that would not build-up another person, any kind of speech that would not preserve or advance holiness in yourself or another is corrupting talk.  And Paul says, as Christians, it should not be what comes out of our mouth.  

Such talk is not good for a couple of reasons.  First, it breaks down the unity of the body of Christ.   If you know someone to be a gossip, are you excited to talk to them?  Do go to them and ask prayer for you when you have problems?  No, you avoid them like the plague!   If when you went to church, all you heard was criticism and put-downs would you want to get going?   If the people there were snippy and told lies about one another, would you then listen to those same people when they led a Bible study?  Of course not. 

Second, it destroys our witness to the world.  Even when the world thinks we are completely nuts, the one thing that makes us attractive to them is our distinctiveness – the fact that we live differently than they do.  If lost people are used to a freely flowing stream of corrupting talk from our mouths, how will they react when we then try to offer them the water of life? Corrupting talk does not encourage the body of Christ.  It does not build up the church, or make it attractive in any way.  That is why Paul says we should not let it fall from our lips.  

We should not use corrupt words, but rather encourage one another with words that build up.  Secondly, from this passage, we see that we are to,   

2. Encourage with Words that Build Up and Bring Grace 

Paul says, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

Don’t miss the striking directness of Paul’s words here.  He says, don’t speak with corrupting words. Then he says, only – only! – speak with words that are good for building up the body.  Thus, every time you go to speak, you have to do so with the intent of building up the other person.   

You see, it is not enough to simply clean up our act.  It is not enough to simply stop swearing, or stop gossiping, or stop lying.  No, that’s not sufficient.  As Christians, we are to be proactive with our words.  Like our time and money and talent, we see our speech as a gift from God and we seek to use it for his glory and the good of his people.

Paul says, it’s important to get this because God desires us – specifically, our words – to be a means of grace in the lives of others.  What do I mean by that?  I mean, God’s grace is to come into the lives of other Christians and those who are not Christian from the words we use.    Thus Paul says there is no place for idle words, vain words without purpose or intent.   Every word you use, every sentence you speak should have behind it the aim, the goal of building up another person.  

Have you ever met anyone who does this?  Have you ever met a Christian who always tries to encourage those around them?   There is one pastor whose sermons I enjoy listening to.  And it is interesting to hear him when he is away from his own church, speaking at someone else.  He always begins by trying to encourage the pastor and church he is the guest of.  And I don’t mean a few trite compliments.   I mean, he has put some thought into it. 

He will give example of their strengths and how he has seen God use those things to strengthen the church.  He will share how he himself has been personally encouraged or has in some way benefited from their ministry. And he is very specific in saying that he sees at it God’s grace coming through them.  And so, before the sermon even starts, you are giving thanks to God for fruitful ministry that is taking place and the lives that are being changed through these people.  You are encouraged by hearing him encourage these other people! 

Paul says those kind of people are not to be the exception.  That is supposed to be normal for every Christian.  That is part of how we are to live together as a cross-centered community.  We are not to be me-centered, but cross-centered.   Here that means remembering what Jesus has done for us on the cross.  Remembering that he willingly laid down his life for us, enduring God’s wrath against our sin, so that we could be forgiven by God.  We remember that we are spiritually united to his death, so that we have died to our old sinful, selfish ways.  And now, having been raised with him, we live in.  We are to live in lives empowered by God’s grace, extending it to others.   

And so, when we talk to each other, we talk in such a way as to point others to the cross.  We point them to Christ so that they may be built up and encouraged in their walk with him.  If we are speaking to lost people, we point them to Christ so that they may be saved.  

Now notice, though, that God’s grace should come at the appropriate time.  Paul says, your words should be ‘good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.’   In other words, when you are seeking to build up another person, it is important to know what they need at the moment.  Our attempt at encouraging them with word must be appropriate to the occasion and appropriate to the person.   In order for this to happen, you need to know something about that person. 

Pastor C. J. Mahaney explains that you have to take an interest in their lives, ask them questions, listen to their answers, be concerned for them.  Then you can carefully choose the appropriate word needed to serve them by encouraging them, building them up What do they need?  Do they need to be counseled?  To be exhorted? To be corrected? To be warned?  To be comforted? 

Elsewhere, Paul says, “we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thess 5:14).   We have to have discernment.  If we give the wrong words for the wrong situation, then we will not be an encouragement to one another.  We should not comfort the idle; we should not admonish the fainthearted; we should not ignore for the weak.  That’s not what they need.  You see, you can have great, wise, biblical counsel.  But if isn’t the right time for it, you will not serve as a means of grace in the other’s life.  This is why the wise sage of Proverbs can say, “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” (Prov 15:23).    

3. Encourage with Words that Please God  

Here, Paul essentially gives us the incentive to use the right kind of words – words that build up the body of Christ and give grace to those who need it.  

He says, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  

That is an amazing verse. You know we often depersonalize whenever we hear talk about the Spirit of God.  The word and idea of a spirit is often ethereal or vague in our minds.  But Paul brings us back to reality.  The Holy Spirit of God who dwells with his people is not some force, but is a divine person.  And he can be grieved – offended – by our sins.  Think about who the Holy Spirit is for a minute –  

• The Holy Spirit is the one who applies to our lives the salvation Christ secured on the cross.  

• He is the one who calls us out of our sin to believe the gospel and trust Christ for salvation. 

• He is the one who raises us from spiritual death and sets us with Christ in the heavenly places. 

• He is the one who guides us and empowers us as we seek to live the Christian life. 

• He is the one who lifts our prayers to the Father in heaven. 

• He is the one who illumines our minds to comprehend God’s word. 

• He is the one who desires our holiness and moves and guides toward that in every area of our lives. 

And it is He who is grieved by our sins.  Here, it’s the sin of misusing and distorting the gift of speech that God has blessed us with.  

Ligon Duncan offers an illustration to help us understand how this happens. He says, imagine living with someone who constantly irritates you by their words.  They speak crassly, use vulgarity.  But more than that, they attack your values.  They undermine your very existence and refuse to listen to you when you ask them to stop.   So, day after day, week after week, year after year, they have to endure this constant disrespect, constant lack of love for you.  That is something of what it means to grieve God’s Spirit.  

Duncan goes on to say, “the Apostle Paul is … reminding us that in every mundane act or word or choice or attitude in the Christian life, there is always a spiritual battle being fought….  and he says ‘Watch out, because your conversation can either delight or vex or grieve the Holy Spirit.’ And he’s reminding us that in every action and word and choice and attitude of the Christian life, there is this spiritual reality in and around and underneath it. Eternal things are being dealt with day by day.” 

Paul is showing that the use of our words does not just harm or build up people.  But that through the harming or building up of people, there is a spiritual reality as well.  We are either delighting or grieving God’s himself.  

Thus, “it is not a question of some offense aimed directly at the Spirit but rather that believers by committing the sort of sins . . . which disrupt communal life, are thereby disrupting and opposing the work of the Spirit in building up the Church. When believers act in a way that harms their brothers and sisters, God is hurt” [Lincoln]. 

So, the mark of one who is spiritual mature is one who seek to reign in and gain control of his speech.  The spiritual person gives caution to what he says and avoids grieving God himself.   

Conclusion  

When we are little, our parents often try to comfort us by saying, ‘sticks and stone may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.’   I don’t know who ever came up with that, but they were a complete idiot.   

I can tell you from experience – as a little kid who got made fun of a lot, to a pastor who has been on the receiving end of some nasty comments and letters – words can hurt.  In fact, they sometimes hurt far worse than any stick or stone ever will.  

But words can also build up.  Words can encourage and edify.  Words can be the means by which God’s grace comes into the lives of his people.  As we seek to better a cross-centered community, let us work at bring God’s grace to each other’s lives, encouraging one another with words that build up.

Cross-Centered Community: Grow (Eph 4:11-16)

Sermon Notes are not exact transcripts of sermons preached at BBC. Instead, they are simply the notes the pastor took with him into the pulpit and preached from. As a result, the actual sermon that was preached may vary from what is posted.

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Christ-Centered Community: Grow

Eph 4:11-16  

Introduction    

Eph 4:1-8, 11-16 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  [8] Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men….”   (and what are those gifts? – verse 11)  [11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,  [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1. The Basis of Growth (4:11-12) 

What is necessary for the growth Paul talks about has been provided by Christ himself – godly leadership.  

             A. Christ-given leadership  

Paul says, “he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,” The apostles were those who laid the foundation of the church.  Of the 12 men that Jesus first called to be his disciples, 11 continued on with another elected to fill Judas place, and then Paul called later by the risen Christ.   These men became the foundation of the church with Jesus as the chief cornerstone.   

And then there were NT prophets who proclaimed the Word of God, revealing God’s plan and purposes to his people.   

Evangelists were those especially gifted to boldly proclaim the gospel in such a way that God used them to call men, women, and children to himself.  These went (much like missionaries) where the gospel had never been before.  

Finally, there were the pastor-teachers.  It is true that there are teachers who are not pastors.  Those who know the Bible and gifted to teacher, but no gifted or called to pastors.  However, those are not the people in view here.  Notice that each of these groups of people the definite article in front until you get to teachers – the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. Most scholars who know and comment on the original languages that Bible was written in, believe that the lack of the word ‘the’ indicates that Paul meant one office – elders.  So, instead of pastor and teachers, we could say, ‘pastor-teachers’ – those who shepherd God’s people through sound teaching, establishing local churches.  

This alone, I believe, helps explains the lack of power of the church in so many parts of the world.  We don’t have good leaders.  We have lazy men who buy sermons off the internet.  Did you know about this?  You can actually buy sermons off the internet; complete with power-point note slides, video-clip illustrations, with nothing controversial or overly convicting.  Is it no wonder the growth of God’s church is so patchy and sporadic?   Where are the leaders that labor over the word, scouring it as if searching for gold?  

Isn’t it interesting that in a day when churches look for the latest new methods, or the hottest trends, Paul says God is not giving those things.  He has given and continues to give men.  Men who will teach the word.  That is the very basis for the growth of God’s church.  

Specifically, Paul says, Christ gave these men “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

             B. Equipping for ministry  

Though, it is a common belief today – if not spoken aloud, at least assumed and practiced – Paul says that Christ does not give these gifts to the church in order for them to do all the work.   In fact, Paul says it’s the opposite.   God gives leadership to the church so that they can equip – train – God’s people for ministry. 

It took one of my mentors in the ministry over 10 years of service to be formally ordained by our church.  It wasn’t because he wasn’t godly or good at what he did.  It was due to the wrong motives of the senior pastor.   Nevertheless, it was only after a few weeks of serving with a full recognition of God’s calling on his life as a minister that a new pastor came.  That pastor had the staff listed in the bulletin – senior pastor, minister of music, minister to students, then it said, “all members – ministers.” My friend said that, at first that really bothered him.  He had finally gotten the respect he felt he deserved and then it was seemingly rendered meaningless.  But he said, he quickly realized the profound truthfulness of this passage.  Yes, he was called to a special ministry.  But all of God’s people are called to ministry.  And part of his calling was to help equip God’s people for ministry. 

The NT is clear that every Christian is given charismata (grace-gifts) or pneumatas (gifts of the Spirit).  These gifts are given to so that God’s people may minister to each other and help bring lost people to faith in Jesus Christ.  Central to any pastor’s ministry should be encouragement and instruction on how the people can use those gifts in ministry. 

Through the ministry of the word, the individuals of any given church – you – are to learn better how to love God, his people, and the lost, and serve them in ministry.  This also means that as a congregation, you have certain responsibilities. 

First, you have to be open to the equipping.  That is to say, you must be willing to receive the teaching of God’s word.  Allow it to cut deep into your life so that sin is uprooted and transformation takes place.  

Second, you have to be willing to see yourself as a minister.  This means regardless of how you get money to pay your bills, you understand God has called you to full-time Christian ministry. It means you work hard at loving those in the church and those not yet in the church.  It means you take seriously whatever responsibilities you have in ministry and do them to the best of your ability to the glory of God.  

Finally, it means that you understand God has given leaders to equip you for ministry so that you may help build up the body of Christ.  God expects you to play a role in building his church.  There are no back benchers, no second-strings in God’s kingdom.  All of us are to be serving God and one another, working by God’s grace to build his church.

Paul goes on in the next verse to tell us why Christ ultimately gave these gifts.  That is, the ultimate goal of our growth.  

2. The Goal of Our Growth (4:13) 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

Paul uses three phrases to describe the same goal – full maturity in Christ.  And notice that Paul says we are to continue to grow in these things until we attain them perfectly.

                A.  To attain unity 

Specifically, this unity is to be a unity of the ‘faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.’ Here is an example of what is known as the already/not yet tension of the NT.  We talked about this a little in Sunday School a few weeks ago.  Because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection the kingdom of God, the new creation has broken into this world.  However that age to come is not yet fully realized.  So, we can say along with the Bible that faith has already been given, although its full unity is still yet to be seen.   

Likewise, God has already given knowledge of Christ.  When we heard the gospel of Christ – his death for us, bearing our sins, securing forgiveness and eternal life – God opened our minds and heart to receive a knowledge of Christ that we might believe in him for salvation.  Yet, Paul can still say that we do not yet have a complete knowledge of Christ.  

Paul’s point is that as each of us use the gifts God has given us, we will build each other up and together, continually grow in our unity around our understanding of Christ.  Thus, empowered by God’s Spirit, we work at continually helping each other know and understand what Christ has done for us.  This knowledge will in turn, more closely bind us together in partnership and fellowship as God’s people.

              B.  To attain maturity  

The second statement of the ultimate goal of our growth together is that we will attain to mature manhood.  Many are tempted to think of this in individualistic terms.  That is, I – John Botkin – will mature in my walk with God.  I will continually come closer to the goal of mature manhood in Christ.  But that is not what Paul is getting at here. 

Paul has in view the whole community of believers.  The language is corporate, not individualistic.  That is to say, Paul is not thinking of individuals maturing, so much as the church as a whole – the church as a body – growing into maturity.    Now, of course it’s true that the individuals who make up a given church will be maturing.  But Paul doesn’t want us to think of the Christian life as a growing by ourselves. In fact, he would say we cannot grow by ourselves.   

Many want to be Christians apart from the Church.  They want the benefits of being saved from God’s wrath towards their sin, but nothing more.  They don’t want to have other Christian asking a lot of questions about their spiritual life.  They don’t want to take the time to be involved in other people’s lives, like Cain asking, ‘am I my brother’s keeper?’  They do not want to make sacrifices for the sake of others.   But Paul says that’s not what God wants.  In fact, you can be sure that you will never really grow in maturity if you are away from the constant presence of God’s people. 

This is why we make such a big deal about faithfulness in attendance.   Even if you’re going through a rough time, struggling with sin or some other issue.  The last place you want to be is away from God’s people!  The church is one of God’s means to bring grace into your life.  In case you still gotten the point yet, let me put it this way – God says, THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT! And as we wait for Christ to return, we work at building his church.  We work at using our gifts to invest in each other’s lives in ministry, growing together in attaining maturity.  

Paul goes on in the next phrase to define what that maturity looks like.  He says, we are building up each other to attain mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  

In our boys’ room, we have a height chart.  And about every six months we stand the kids up against the wall and mark how tall they are.  Rebekah’s goal is always to be as tall as Joshua!  That’s the standard she’s shooting for.  Likewise, Paul says, when we look to the perfect God-man, Jesus Christ.  In him we have the one by whom we are to measure our church.  In growing together in maturity, we are seeking to reach the fullness of Christ.  

So, look around and ask yourself – as church – do we, glorify God like Christ?  love God’s people like Christ? seek the lost like Christ?  serve one another like Christ served his disciples? That’s the kind of maturity we are seeking.  

In verse 13, Paul describes our ultimate destination as God’s people. Now in verses 14-16, he describes what we must do to get there.   

3. The Means of Growth (4:14-16) 

[14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,  [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  

           A. Truth  

Paul pictures immaturity as those who are like “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” 

The imagery Paul draws on is of the immaturity of children – they require teaching and guidance.  As well as a man tossed around on a ship during a storm at sea, and of some straw or scrap of parchment, blowing around in the wind.   How easily do you change your mind about what the Bible teaches?  Certainly, we should be growing our understanding of it.  That will often mean changing our mind about things.  But what about the essentials?  Do you know them well?  Are your beliefs rooted in God’s word?  Or are you like kids buying ice cream?  Changing their mind about what kind is their favorite every 30 seconds? Paul says, through the cunning, crafty, deceitful schemes of wicked men and women, Christian doctrine will be warped and twisted.  And those that are immature follow any little thing that comes along.   

Benny Hinn is notoriously bad about this.  On various occasions, he has come up with some real doozies – Adam could fly and flew to the moon; there is a trinity of trinities, so that there are 9 persons in the Godhead.   When his book, Good Morning Holy Spirit first came out that it was dictated to him directly by God.  But then after only a few weeks, it had to be recalled and reprinted because it had so many errors in it!  And yet people follow him, give him money, revere him like he is a wonderful Christian teacher.   

Sometimes, it’s not as obvious as that.  Sometimes, it comes in teaching that says God does something and we do something to be saved.  Thus, Christ’s work on the cross is like the contents of safety deposit box. In order to get you, you have to turn your key while God turns his and the out pops forgiveness.   

Or perhaps it’s believing that some short prayer of a guy buried in the genealogy of Chronicles will ensure that God blesses your life.  Just say the prayer over and over and God will take care of you.  Apparently, over a million people in this country alone fell for that one.

If we are to overcome maturity, we must make the Bible central in our lives.  Take it off the shelf, pick it up off the back seat of your car where it sat all week after the Sunday service and read it.   Listen to the teaching given while you’re at church, from the leaders given by Christ.  If they turn out to be wolf in sheep’s clothing, get rid of them.  If not, then listen and take to heart what they say as they lovingly unfold God’s word.  

              B.  Love 

Paul says, speak the truth in love.  We will talk about this more next week.  Suffice it to say now that truth without love is not very helpful.  Truth without love can divide churches, drive away lost people, and tear apart rather than build up the body of Christ.  

But in love, we can speak truth to each other, encouraging one another towards godliness and maturity, pointing sin and reminding each other of God’s promises.  We can speak the truth in love to lost people, telling them first of their sin before God, and their need of forgiveness, and then of Christ’s substitution of himself for sinful humanity. 

             C. Community  

Paul says, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,  [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

The growth that Paul talks about here is both an intensive and an extensive growth.  That is, we are not only maturing as God’s people, but we are growing as God’s people are more and more people are being saved by the gospel and added to the body of Christ.  

And here Paul is saying that each of us has a role to play in this growing process.  Paul says every joint of the body of Christ is to be working properly so it can grow.  We not only need to make sure we are doing our part, we need to make sure that everyone else is where they need to be. You see, in order for every joint to be working, we need to see ourselves as a community.

We need to see ourselves together as the temple of God, the body of Christ, the household of faith.  We need to care for one another, and be concerned for each other’s needs.   This is why we are seeking to make many of the changes we’re looking at for the fall.  We want to help one another more consistently and intimately be involved in each other’s lives.  Building one other up, helping each other grow.   So that, together, as we live in light of the cross, we continue to grow into the fullness of Christ.

Conclusion